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10 July 2007

By Kirsty Nicolson

LEGS wearing colourful tights and '80s style legwarmers trod - or rather danced across - the boards when the fun musical Fame was staged in Peterborough. But there was something a bit special about the production.

It wasn't just performed by experienced actors but, amazingly, by some children who had never even walked onto a stage before.

Peterborough City Council's Young People's Service (YPS) invited youngsters aged between 13 and 19 to hot foot it into the theatre and take part in the all singing, all dancing musical.

It was showcased at The Cresset in Rightwell, Bretton, on Friday to resounding applause by an impressed audience.

One youngster whose appetite for the theatre was whetted by taking part in the production was Matt Walker from South Bretton.

The 14-year-old, who is a pupil at Jack Hunt School, in Ledbury Road, Netherton, Peterborough, signed up for Fame after reading about it in The Evening Telegraph.

Matt, who was an usher on the night, said: "It was absolutely fantastic.

"I really enjoying taking part. I made a lot of friends."

His mum Sue said: "I think this is a great scheme because it has given children who do not have the option of going to expensive stage schools the chance to get involved.

Fabriozio Schiavone (15), who attends Stanground College, took up the daunting task of singing solo in public on when he performed I Want to Make Magic.

He said: "It was really good, I wasn't that nervous - I couldn't see the crowd too much because of the spot light."

Ella Benning (15) from Orton Wistow was a dancer in the production. She said: "I really got a buzz from taking part in the show.

"I really enjoy going on stage and would love to do it again."

The Bushfield Community College pupil said she had already taken part in productions at school such as Grease.

Members of the Interface Youth Theatre, Peterborough Youth Music and Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) were involved in the project.

The production was part of the West End in the city project which was run by the YPS and hosted by the Peterborough Festival.

Curriculum specialist youth worker for the YPS, Caroline Dolby said: "It was a complete success. We are really proud of everyone who took part."

Many of the children who took part in Fame said they were hoping to take part in Disney's High School Musical, which will be performed in The Cresset in September.

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